Power transmitting device



0d- 8` 1940- w. w. cRlLEY .2,217,332

CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 28, 1938 2 SheeFs-Sheet l ATTORNEYJ) Oct. 8, 1940. w w CRlLEY 2,217,332

CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Shea#- 2 INVENTOR. Mya/aw M /Ksy A TTORNEYJ! Patented July 8, 1941 POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE Carl Budelier, Rock Island, and Wilbur J. Coultas, Moline, Ill., asslgnors to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a 4corporation of Illinois ApplicatiorMay 22, 1939, serial No. 274,924

(c1. ses-z5) 8 Claims.

'Ihe present invention relates to power transmitting devices, and more particularly to a releasable coupling for transmitting rotary power from the power take-off shaft of a tractor to operating mechanism on an implement drawn thereby.

Certain types of implements, such as mowers for example, are connected to the tractor by a spring releasehitch or latch that allows the cutter bar or other operating parts to swing back out of the Way of serious obstructions and thereby prevent such parts from being damaged. It is desirable that the operation of the cutter bar should be stopped immediately upon its release, and to this end it is the usual practice to provide a releasable coupling device in the power train between the power take-off shaft and the driven shaft on the implement, generally immediately behind the power take-oil shaft. Such coupling devices usually consist of a jaw clutch, the driving member of which is fixed to the power takeoff shaft and the driven member thereof being carried by the driven shaft of the implement. When the'cutter bar is released and swings rear'- wardly, the driven clutch member is pulled away from and out of engagement with the driving member to interrupt the transmission of power and stop the mechanism, said driven member usually dropping upon a support member provided on the implement for that purpose. The implement is coupled together again by backing the tractor up, which causes the cutter bar to swing back to its normal laterally extending position and the spring release hitch to reengage therewith. At the same time, the clutch driven member is manually guided into engagement with the driving member on the power take-off shaft to reestablish the power connection. One objection to this arrangement, however, resides in the fact that it is necessary to guide thedriven clutch member into engagement with the driving member at the same time that the tractor is being operated, and due to the relative placement of the tractor controls and the power take-olf shaft, such simultaneous operation is frequently dinicult and hazardous when performed by one man.

The principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a releasable coupling device of the character described which can be readily connected with the power take-olf shaft after the spring release hitch has been recoupled, thereby eliminating the necessity ofperforming both operations simultaneously. We accomplish this object by mounting the clutch driven mem= ber on a telescoping shaft and providing suitable spring means for urging the clutch driven member into engagement with the driving member. The driven shaft of the implement is recoupled with the power take-oif-shaft ofthe tractor by telescoping the driven shaft against the compression of the spring sufficiently to align the clutch driven member with the driving member, and then allowing the spring to force the driven member into engagement with the driving member.

Other objects and advantageous features of our invention will become apparent to those skilled in the rart after consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred form thereof, reference being had to the appended drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a tractor mounted mower embodying our improved 'releasable coupling device in the power transmission system thereof; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged, partially sectioned view of the coupling device, showing the clutch members separated.- Y

Referring now to the drawings, we have illustrated our improved power. transmitting device embodied in a mower mounted on a tractor 5 of the type comprising a body having laterally extending rear axle housings B, l, axles 8 journaled therein, and drive wheels 9 mounted on the outer ends of the axles 8. Rearwardly facing mounting bosses I0, Il are provided on the back sidesof the rear axlehousings 6, l, respectively, and serve as means for attaching the mower. A generally U-shaped draw frame I2 has the forward ends of its arms connected to the tractor body in any usual manner.

The draft frame of the mower is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I3 and consists of a transverse pipe or tubular member I4 secured by brackets I5 to the draw frame I2 and by a vertical standard I6 to the mounting boss II on the rear axle housing 1. A U-shaped main supporting frame 20 of the mower is pivotally connected to the pipe I4 for vertical swinging movement, by means of clamp members 2 I, fixed to the front ends of the arms thereof. This main frame extends rearwardly from the tractor and is further supported by means of a tension link 22, which is bolted at 23 to theleft arm of the frame 20 and slidably engages the upper end of a ver tical standard 24 iixed to the mounting boss I0 on the axle housing 6. A nut 25 is threaded on the forward end of the link 22 and engages tl'xev front face of the standard 24 to limit the downward swinging movement of the U-shaped frame member 20 and thereby hold the mower in proper The mower is carried' by an auxiliary frame or sub-frame which is suitably mounted upon the i Amain supportingframe 2,0. This sub-frame comprises a forward member 30 of substantially U- shape in plan, and a rearward member 3|. 'I'he 1 left-hand endof member 30 is disposed under frame 26 adjacent the rear left corner thereof and the righthand end of the member 36 is bolted at 32 to the right end of member 3|. hand end of the rearward member 3| is disposed on top of the main supporting. frame 20 and is through aligned holes in members 30 and 3| and the frame 20. This serves to secure the members of the sub-frame together and also to provide a mechanism ispin general, of known type and comprises the head 4|, shoe 42, cutter bar 43 and associated parts. The cutting mechanism need not be illustrated or described in detail, it being sumcient. to note that such a mechanism of more or less conventionaltype is provided. The shoe head 4| is also connected by a tension rod44 to the front portion of the sub-frame member 36,' said tension rod being pivotally connected by a bolt 46 to a bracket 46 flxedly mounted on the member 36. The drag bar 46 t and tension rod 44 thus allow the shoe head secured thereto by a pivot bolt33rwhich is passed pivotal connection between the sub-frame and the main supporting frame2'0, the sub-frame being swingable about the bolt 33 relative to frame t 26 so as to be moved into and out ofy operating relation thereto.

The sub-frame, which carries the mower cutter bar and operating mechanism, is normally `locked to the main supporting frame 20 with l the member 3| disposed above the bight portion 1 of this frame 20 and in substantial parallelism therewith, the cutter bar 43 extending laterally outwardly beyond the right hand side of the l tractor. In order that the cutter bar may swing rearwardly to clear an obstruction which offers considerable resistance thereto, such as a stump or rock, the mower is provided with means for releasably looking the sub-frame to the main frame in operative relation thereto, said means ltaking the form of a spring release latch, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 34. Since the latch 34 forms no part of the present invention, it is not deemed necessary to show and describe the same in detail herein, although reference may be had to letters Patent No. 1,915,548, granted to T. W. Paul on June 27,

`1933, for details of construction and operation `of such a latch. Suffice to say, the latch 34 is mounted on the sub-frame member 3| and has suitable cooperating members adapted' to engagethe bight portion of the main supporting frame 20 for holding the sub-frame of the mower in operating position against normal operating resistance. In the event that the cutter bar 43 encounters an object which offers unusual resistance thereto such as would be apt to cause `injuryl to the mower. the resulting rearward pressure causes the latch 34 to disengage the frame 20, thus releasing the sub-frame which is then free to swing rearwardly into the extreme sdotted line position of Figure 1 so as to clear the obstruction. After the obstruction has been cleared, the mower can readily be restored to operating position by backing the tractor up, ,which causes the sub-frame to swing about the vpivot 33' to its normally laterally extending po- -sition andthe latch 34 to automatically reengage .the frame 20.

4| and associated parts to rise and fall in a manner well known in the art.

'I'he cutter bar 43 is reciprocated in the usual manner by means of n, pltman 66 suitably connected thereto at one end, the other end of this pitman rod being eccentrically connected at 6| to a flywheel 62 which is driven, from a drive shaft, through a suitable transmission of known typeV mounted in the housing 36. 'I'he mower drive shaft is driven, through the medium of a transmission shaft and universal Joints, from a rearwardly extending, splined power take-oil shaft 63 of the tractor 6, there being a releasable clutch of special construction disposed in serial arrangement between the tractor power take-oil' shaft and the mower drive shaft, which acts to-disc6nnect the power from the mower' end of the power take-oi! shaft 53 and is ilxedly secured thereto by a split-clamp portion 65 that is tightened by a nut and bolt 56. The rearward portion 60 of the sleeve 54 has a cylindrical -outer periphery and functions as a supporting hub or pilot, while intermediate of the ends v of the sleeve is a flange 6| having a plurality of rearwardly facing, unidirectional teeth 62. These teeth cooperate with similar teeth 63 provided on a flange 64 atthe front end of a collar 65 forming the driven member of the clutch. AThe collar 65 has a cylindrical aperture 66 which is adapted to receive the pilot 60 in a loose telescoping fit allowing for sliding as well as rotating movement of the member 65 relative to the member 64. The clutch teeth 63 are directed oppositely to teeth 62, the teeth of the two clutch elements being so `related that the member 65 is driven in the direction of the arrow A from the power take-off shaft 53, this being the normal direction of rotation of shaft 53.

The driven clutch member 65 also includes an integral forked portion 61 comprising one element of a universal joint 66 provided at the front end of the transmission shaft 10, the other element 1| of the joint being fixedly secured, as by welding, to the end of the shaft 10. 'I'he transmission shaft 10 consists of a large tubular member 12 and a smaller tubular member 13, both of square cross section, with the larger tube telescoping over the smaller one and longitudinally slidable relative thereto. A second universal joint 14 is disposed at the rear end of the transmission shaft 16 and comprises one member 15 which i-s welded or otherwise suitably secured to the end of the smaller tube l 13, and a second member 16 which is fixed to the mower drive shaft.

Disposed within the squarevtubular members 12, 13 is a 'longitudinally extending rod 80, the

front end of which is cut back, as at 8|, to form a shoulder 83. 'Ihe reduced end portion 8| 'of the rod extends through an aperture 84 in an end wall 85 which is fixed to the tube 12, and is secured by a cotter pin 86 which bears 'against the front face of the wall 85 to prevent relative rearward movement of the rod 80. The shoulder 83 .bears against the back face of the wall 85 to prevent relative forward movement o1' the rod 80.

The rear end of the rod.80 extends through an aperture 90 in a partition wall 9| which is disposed within and xed to the smaller tubular member 13. The rod 80 is freely slidable Within the aperture 90 and is prevented from slipping out of the aperture by a cotter pin 92 which is passed through the end of the rod and is adapted to bear against the back face of the partition wall 9i in the manner of a limit stop. A compression spring 93 encircles the rod 88, bearing at one end against the partition wall 9| and at the other end against the end wall 85. Thus, the telescoping transmission shaft 10 has its two tubular members 12, 13 urged apart into fully extended position by the spring 93, the extended length of the shaft being more or less determined by the distance between walls 85, 9i and the relative length of the rod 80. Since the engaging teeth B2, 63 of the clutch are perpendicular to the force acting thereon during operation, a great force is not required to be exerted by the spring 93 to hold the members together. 'I'he spring is therefore made light enough to be easily compressed by hand.

The operation of our device is as follows: When the mower is initially mounted on the tractor, the draft frame I3V is first connected with the tractor body by means of the brackets I and vertical standards I6, 24. The sleeve 54 is then slipped onto the tractor power take-off shaft 53 and secured thereto by the clamp 55. Next, the transmission shaft is telescoped against the pressure of the spring 93, and the clutch member 65 is guided onto the pilot member 60, after which the spring is allowed to force the clutch teeth 63 into operating engagement with the teeth B2 so that the transmission shaft 10 is driven from the power take-off shaft 53 of the tractor.

In the event that the cutter bar encounters an obstruction which offers suicient resistance to release the sub-frame from the main frame, the sub-frame swings`rearwardly so that the cutter bar clears the obstruction, as previously described. This rearward swinging movement of the sub-frame about the pivot 33 withdraws the transmission shaft 10, and with it the clutching member 65, from the power take-off shaft 53, thereby disengaging the clutching members 54, 65 and interrupting the drive to the cutter bar. When the member 65 is withdrawn clear of the pilot 60, the transmission shaft 10, being no longer supported at its front end, drops down upon a. support member 94 provided on the subframe member 30 for the purpose. As soon as the obstruction has been cleared, the operator swings the cutter bar back into its operative position, after which the driving connection between shafts 53 and 10 is reestablished by manually telescoping the shaft 10 sufficiently to bring the collar 65 into register with the pilot hub 50, and then releasing the shaft to allow the spring 93 to force the driven clutch member into operating engagement with the driving clutch member.

What we claim is:

frame movable toward and away from said main frame, releasable means normally connecting said-frames, rotary mechanism mounted on each of said frames, and' power transmitting means interconnecting said mechanisms including shaft means, releasable means for couplingone end of said shaft means to, and supporting the same on one of "said mechanisms, comprising a pair of relatively rotatable4 telescoping members, each having a clutch element fixed thereto, said elements being interengageable only when said telescoping members are substantially closed together, and flexible means connecting the other end of said shaft means With'the other of said mechanisms, said telescoping members being separated axially when said auxiliary frame moves away from s'aid'main frame, thereby first disengaging said clutch elements and then dropping said shaft means and said telescoping members away from alinement with each other, said power transmitting means being extensible and having means biasing the same'toward extended position, whereby said power transmitting means can be manually shortened to bring said telescoping members into alinement after said auxiliary frame is returned to normally connected position relative to said main frame.

'2. In combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft movable into and out of operative position with respect to said driving shaft, and transmission means for releasably coupling said shafts together, whereby said driven shaft is automatically disconnected from the rdriving shaft when moved out of said operative position, said transmission means comprising a transmission shaft, flexible means connecting one end of said transmission shaft with said driven shaft, a pair of separable relatively rotatable telescoping members, one of said members being connected with said driving shaft and the other being connected with the other end of said transmission shaft, said telescoping members serving to support said transmission shaft when interengaged and allowing the transmission shaft to drop away from the driving shaft when separated, a pair of clutch elements fixed to said telescoping members, respectively, and interengageable only' when the latter are telescoped together, and resilient means tending to extend said transmission, means to hold said clutch elements together, said resilient means being yieldable to permit manually shortening said transmission means to allow said other telescoping member to be aligned with and engage said first named telescoping member when said driven shaft is in operative position, and thereafter urging the clutching elements into driving connection.

3. In combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft movable into and out of operativeposition with respect to said driving shaft, and transmission means for releasably coupling said shafts together, whereby said driven shaft is automatically disconnected from the driving shaft when moved out of said operative position, said transmission means comprising a telescoping transmission shaft, flexible means connecting one end of said transmission shaft with said driven shaft, a driving clutch member flxedly mounted on said driving shaft, a driven clutch member connected with the other end of said transmission shaft and adapted for axial movement relative to said driving clutch member into and out of engagement therewith, a pair of separable relatively rotatable telescoping members associated with said 1. In combination, a main frame, an auxiliary t clutch members, respectively, and disposed coi axially thereof, said telescoping members cooperating to support said transmission shaftwhen gaged whereby said driven clutch member drops 1 away from alignment withv said driving clutch member, and resilient means tending to extend j said transmission shaft, said resilient means being yieldable to permit manually telescoping the shaft to allow said telescoping member on 4. In combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft movable into and out of operative position 1 with respect to said driving shaft, and transmis-v sion means for releasably coupling said shafts together, whereby said driven shaft is automatii cally disconnected from the driving shaft when 'i moved out of said operative position, said transi mission means comprising a telescoping transmission shaft, flexible means connecting one end of said transmission shaft with said driven shaft,

i a driving clutch member flxedly mounted on said 3 driving shaft. a driven clutch member adapted i for axial movement relative to said driving clutch member into and out of engagement. therewith,

flexible means connecting said driven clutch member with the other end of said transmission shaft, means on said driving clutch member adapted to 1slidably and rotatably receive said driven clutch member for supporting the same in axially aligned engagement with the driv- 1 ing clutch member, but permitting relative rotation therebetween until said clutch members i move axially into engagement with each other,

said driven clutch member dropping away from axial alignment with the driving clutch member when disengaged therefrom, and resilient mea'ns tending to extend said transmission shaft, saidv resilient means being yieldable to permit manu- 1 ally telescoping the shaft to allow said driven clutch member to be brought into register with said supporting means, and thereafter urging the driven clutch member into engagement with the driving clutch member.

5. In combination, a driving shaft, a driven `shaft movable axially into and out of operative `position with respect to said driving shaft, and

transmission means for releasably coupling said `shafts together whereby said driven shaft is automatically disconnected from the driving shaft when moved out of said operative position,

said transmission means comprising a pair of shaft members connected together for axial sliding movement relative one `another and adapted to transmit rotary power, one of said shaft members being operatively connected with said driven shaft, a driving clutch member flxedly mounted on said driving shaft, a driven clutch member operatively connected with the other of said :shaft members and adapted for axial movement relative to said driving clutch member into and out of driving engagement therewith, means as- `sociated with said driving clutch member engageable with said driven clutch member for `rotataly supporting the same in axial alignment with said driving clutch member but out of clutching engagement therewith, said support means being adapted to release said driven clutch member when said driven shaft is moved out of `said operative position and allow the same to engaged, and releasing the same when disenl drop out of axial alignment with said driving clutch member, and spring means connected with said shaft members forextending the same. said spring means being yieldable'to permit manually sliding the shaft members together whereby said driven clutch member can be aligned 'with said driving clutch member and supported on said supporting means when'said driven shaft is inv operative position, and said spring means thereafter urging the driven clutch member into driving engagement with the driving clutch member.

6. In combination. a driving shaft, a driven shaft movable axially into and out of operative position with respect to said driving shaft, and transmission means for releasably coupling said shafts together whereby said driven shaft is automatically disconnected from the driving shaft when moved out of said operative position, said transmission means comprisinga pair of square tubular shaft members disposed in telescoping relation, a universal joint connecting one of said shaft members with said driven shaft, a driving clutch member fixedly mounted on said driving shaft, a driven clutch member movable axially relative to said driving 'clutch member into and out of driving engagement therewith, a second universal joint connecting said driven clutch member with the other of said shaft members, said clutch members having cooperating portions adapted to support said tubular shaft members when engaged, providing for relative rotation therebetween until said clutch members move axially into engagement with each other, and releasing the same when disengaged whereby said driven clutch member drops away from alignment with said driving clutch member. a compression spring disposed within said tubular shaft members and bearing at each end against one of said shaft members tending to extend the same, saidspring being yieldable to permit manually telescoping said shaft members whereby said driven clutch member can be positioned in alignment with said driving clutch member with said cooperating portions in engagement, when said driven shaft is in operative position, said spring thereafter urging the driven clutch member into engagement with the driving clutch member,

7. For use with a tractor having a power takeoff shaft, an implement comprising a main supporting frame adapted to be mounted on the.

tractor body, an auxiliary frame connected with said main frame for swinging movement relative thereto between operative and inoperative positions, a latch device for releasably holding said auxiliary frame in operative position, operating mechanism carried on said auxiliary frame and swingable therewith, and transmission means for releasably coupling said power take-oil shaft with said operating mechanism whereby the latter is automatically disconnected from the power take-off shaft when said auxiliary frame swings to inoperative position, said transmission means comprising la. telescoping transmission shaft, means connecting one 'nd of said transmission shaft with said operating mechanism, a driving clutch member fixed to said power take-off shaft, a driven clutch member connected withthe other end of said transmission shaft and adapted for axial movement relative to said driving clutch member into and out of engagement therewith, a pair of separable relatively rotatable telescoping members associated with said clutch members, respectively, and disposed coaxially thereof, said telescoping members serving to support said transmission shaft when engaged and allowing the transmission shaft to drop away from the power take-off shaft when disengaged, and spring means for urging said telescoping transmission shaft into extended position and normally maintaining said driven clutch member in engagement with the driving clutch member, said spring means being yieldable to permit manually telescoping the shaft and bringing said telescoping member on the driven clutch member into register with the corresponding member on said driving clutch member when said auxiliary frame is in operative position.

` 8. For use with a tractor having a rearwardly extending power take-off shaft, a mowing implement comprising a main supporting frame adapted to be fixedly mounted on the rear end of the tractor body, a cutter bar supporting frame connected with said main frame for swinging movement relative thereto between a laterally extending operative position and a rearwardly trailing inoperative position, a forwardly extending drive shaft journaled on said cutter bar supporting frame for driving cutting mechanism thereon, and transmission means for releasably coupling said power take-off shaft with said drive shaft whereby the latter is automatically disconnected from the power take-oft shaft when said cutter bar frame swings to inoperative position, said transmission means comprising a telescoping transmission shaft, flexible means connecting one end of said transmission shaft with said drive shaft, a driving clutch member fixed to said power take-off shaft, a driven clutch member adapt- .ed for axial sliding movement relative to said driving clutch member into and out of operative engagement therewith, flexible means connecting said driven clutch member with the other end of said transmissionshaft, a pair of separable relatively rotatable telescoping members associated with said clutch members, respectively, and disposed coaxially thereof, said telescoping members serving to support said transmission shaft when engaged, permitting relative rotation before said clutch members are brought into engagement, and allowing the transmission shaft to drop away from the power take-off shaft when disengaged, and spring means tending to extend said telescoping transmission shaft, said spring means being yieldable to permit manually telescoping the shaft and bringing said telescoping member on the driven clutch member into register with the corresponding member on said driving clutch member when said cutter bar frame is in operative position.

CARL BUDELIER. WILBUR J. COULTAS. 

